Vehicle Stabilization and support tool

Abstract

A tool for stabilizing and supporting a vehicle by forming a rigid member between a bearing surface and the vehicle comprising at least one member having a cylinder and a movable piston that protrudes axially from the cylinder at a cylinder end. The cylinder end is formed with a pair of inclined circumferential surfaces. A collar extends axially from the cylinder and slidably receives the protruding piston. The collar is formed with a pair of internal annular step surfaces corresponding to the cylinder end surfaces. The collar step surfaces and the cylinder circumferential surfaces are engagable to permit rotation and simultaneous axial movement of the collar with respect to the cylinder. A pin is selectively positionable at one of a plurality of holes along the piston for engagement with the collar to prevent movement of the piston with respect to the collar. A locking system is provided for releasably securing the collar against rotation relative to the cylinder. In use, the piston is extended from the cylinder and the pin is inserted through one of the holes along the piston to define an initial extended position. The collar is then rotated to move axially into engagement with the pin and locked in place with respect to the cylinder to define a final fixed extended position of the tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tool for stabilizing and supporting a vehicle by forming a rigid member between a bearing surface and the vehicle comprising: at least one elongatable member having a cylinder and a movable piston that protrudes axially from the cylinder at a cylinder end formed with a pair of inclined circumferential surfaces;   a collar that extends axially from the cylinder and slidably receives the protruding piston, the collar being formed with a pair of internal annular step surfaces corresponding to the cylinder end surfaces, the collar step surfaces and the cylinder circumferential surfaces being engagable to permit rotation and simultaneous axial movement of the collar with respect to the cylinder;   a stop selectively positionable at one of a plurality of positions along the piston for engagement with the collar to prevent movement of the piston with respect to the collar; and   a locking system for releasably securing the collar against rotation relative to the cylinder;   whereby the piston is extended from the cylinder and the stop is positioned at one of the plurality of positions along the piston to define an initial extended position of the tool, and the collar is then rotated to move axially into engagement with the stop and locked in place with respect to the cylinder to define a final fixed extended position of the tool.   
     
     
       2. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inclined circumferential surfaces of the cylinder and the internal step surfaces of the collar are formed with stop faces at each end of the surfaces. 
     
     
       3. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of positions along the piston comprise a series of passages extending through the piston and the stop is a pin insertable through any one of the passages. 
     
     
       4. A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which the at least one elongatable member is pivotally connectable to a base at one end. 
     
     
       5. A tool as claimed in claim 4 in which the at least one elongatable member is releasably connectable to a vehicle engaging member at the end opposite the base. 
     
     
       6. A tool as claimed in claim 5 including an extension member connectable between the piston member and the vehicle engaging member. 
     
     
       7. A tool as claimed in claim 4 including a connecting member for joining the at least one elongatable member end to end to another elongatable member.